News

Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 class of the Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI), the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division's six-month training and development program for law students.

Now in its seventh year, the DLI is designed to develop skills to succeed as an attorney, empower students to contribute to the legal community, match students to mentors in a diverse variety of practice areas and build relationships among students of diverse backgrounds. Interested applicants must be enrolled in a Tennessee law school and must be in their second, third or fourth year of study. To be accepted into the program, student must be TBA law student members.

Three legal advice clinics will take place tomorrow as Celebrate Pro Bono Month enters its last week of activities. The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold its standing McHugh Clinic in Nashville at 8:30 a.m. The group also will hold a clinic from 9 a.m. to noon at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. The TBA Young Lawyers Division will round out the day with a free Wills for Heroes clinic for first responders from 9 a.m. to noon in Lebanon. Get details on these and other remaining events on the Celebrate Pro Bono web page.

Philip A. Hatch, assistant district attorney in the 13th Judicial District, was named the state’s DUI Prosecutor of the Year by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, the Herald-Citizen reports. In presenting the award, Byrant C. Dunaway, attorney general in the 13th Judicial District, praised Hatch for several notable DUI convictions, including one that went all the way to the Tennessee Supreme Court and set new precedent. Hatch, who previously served on the TBA Young Lawyers Division Board, handles cases from Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White counties from the district’s Cookeville office.

The Knoxville Bar Association will host its annual charity golf tournament Monday at Holston Hills Country Club. Individual and team registrations have closed but corporate sponsors are still needed. Funds raised at the tournament will be used for the various charitable endeavors of the Barristers, including programs from its Hunger & Poverty Relief Committee.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division has three Wills for Heroes clinics planned during Celebrate Pro Bono Month. The first will take place Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Public Library in Memphis. The second will take place Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon. The third will take place Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Franklin Police Department in downtown Franklin. Volunteers are needed for all events. Get details and contact information for each clinic on the TBA.org website.

The Knox County General Sessions Court has adopted a new Rule 27 to govern the appointment of attorneys to represent indigent defendants. Beginning Nov. 30, the court will maintain a list of attorneys approved to accept criminal defense appointments. The list will be maintained by the judicial court administrator and will be revised annually. Each year by Dec. 31, attorneys desiring to remain on the list should provide written or email notice to the administrator. For more information, contact the court at 865-215-2370.

One of the first events of the 2016 Celebrate Pro Bono Month is an expungement clinic planned for Saturday at Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division will join with several community partners to offer legal advice to those seeking to expunge their records. For more information visit the event’s Facebook page or contact organizer and Memphis lawyer Amber Floyd.

The TBA YLD Board invites specialty and minority bars in the state to name a representative to serve as an unfunded and non-voting member of the board. The goal of the invited guest program is to increase diversity among the board and provide an opportunity for young lawyers involved in other legal organizations to have a voice in the state bar association. See a list of all organizations invited to send representatives.

Association for Women Attorneys (AWA) – The AWA has several events coming up this fall. On Sept. 14 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., the group will have a membership social at Heather Boutique & Spa in Memphis. On Nov. 9, the AWA will have its New Attorney Welcome and Membership Social to welcome new attorneys that have passed the bar at Bank Tennessee in Memphis. For more information about the AWA, contact Megan Warden, (901) 848-8725.

For the eighth year, ETLAW will have a team for the Knoxville Race for the Cure. This year’s event will be held on Oct. 22. The team is open to all members of ETLAW, their friends, family and co-workers of all ages. With registration, you will receive a long-sleeved race t-shirt from Komen. To be part of ETLAW’s team, go to www.komenknoxville.org, then take these steps: “Events," “Race for the Cure," “Register" and “Join a Team.” Create an account or log in as a former participant. You will then be asked to find the team, which is “East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women.” All registrations and donations are made through Komen’s secure site. Komen will provide a receipt for tax purposes for any donation over the registration fee.

ETLAW will be hosting its Annual Supreme Court Luncheon on Nov. 7 at noon at The Foundry in Knoxville. All are welcome to attend. The cost of an individual ticket is $35 and New Admittees can attend for only $15. The luncheon follows the swearing-in ceremony in Knoxville that morning. Should you have questions, please contact Alyssa Y. Minge, ETLAW President-Elect, at alyssa.minge@leitnerfirm.com or at (865) 342-4916.

Lawyers Association for Women, Anne Schneider Chapter – For information about the group and its activities, contact Ronda Webb-Stewart, (731) 426-1337.

Lawyers Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter – The Lawyers Association for Women – Marion Griffin Chapter will host its Annual New Admittees’ Breakfast on Nov. 8 at Music City Center, 201 5th Avenue South, in the Davidson Ballroom. The New Admittees' Breakfast has been a signature event in the Nashville legal community for 40 almost years. The event is attended by more than 300 new admittees, judges, local bar dignitaries and attorneys. This year we are excited that Metropolitan Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway is the keynote speaker. Judge Calloway was elected Judge of the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Juvenile Court in August 2014. Prior to becoming Judge, she served as Juvenile Court Magistrate for 10 years. Judge Calloway is active in many organizations that advocate for students in the Metro Nashville Public Schools. She serves on the state-wide Advisory Board of Tennessee Voices for Victims and is a member of local bar associations. Click here to register.

For information about the group and its activities, contact Christen Blackburn, (615) 255-7722.

National Bar Association, Ballard Taylor Chapter – For information about the group and its activities, contact Terica Smith Anderson, (731) 423-5805.

National Bar Association, Napier Looby Chapter - For information about the group and its activities, contact Cyle Catlett, (708) 845-7469.

National Bar Association, S.L. Hutchins Chapter – The NBA S.L. Hutchins Chapter along with the Chattanooga Diversity Consortium is hosting its first Annual Chattanooga Law Leadership Academy for high school students to introduce them to the practice of law. The Academy will be October 10-11. Please contract Ariel Anthony (see below) to volunteer and for additional details.

For information about the group and its activities, contact Ariel Anthony, (432) 755-2661.

Southeast Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women (SETLAW) – SETLAW will be having a membership drive on October 27 and hosting its annual Christmas party on December 8.

American Bar Association YLD – The ABA YLD Fall Conference is scheduled for Oct. 20-22. More information on this conference can be found here. To learn more about the ABA YLD visit the group online, follow them on Facebook and Twitter or connect on Linkedin.

Chattanooga Bar Association YLD – The Chattanooga Bar Association YLD will continue to have monthly social happy hours and quarterly Coffee Talks with local judges throughout the year. The group will host a fundraising social for CASA on Oct.19 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Clyde’s on Main. All attendees are encouraged to either bring a teddy bear or $10 as an entry fee. The group will be hosting an expungement clinic in November.

For more information about the group contact President Corrin Fulton, (423) 756-5171, or follow the group on Facebook.

Jackson Madison County Bar Association YLD – The new President for the JMCBA is Gayra Hall. For more information about the group contact President Gayra Hall or follow news on the group's Facebook page.

Knoxville Bar Association Barristers – The Barristers Volunteer Breakfast is a recurring event on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:15 a.m. The Barristers Volunteer Breakfast Committee always needs volunteers to serve food or sponsor. Sign up here. The group recently sponsored a Veterans Legal Advice Clinic with 20+ attorney volunteers.

Maury County Bar Association YLD – The Maury County YLD continues to hold social gatherings on the first Tuesday of the month. For more information contact President Thomas Hutto, (931) 388-2822.

Memphis Bar Association YLD – The group recently held its annual golf tournament. Join the Memphis Bar Association Young Lawyers Division for its annual meeting and elections on Nov. 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Central Barbecue (downtown location). Come cast your vote for YLD Vice President/President-Elect, Board of Directors and Outstanding Judge of the Year! Voting will close at 6:30 p.m. Before the night is over, the gavel will be passed, and the results of the election will be announced.

For more information about the MBA YLD, or if you would like to get involved with the MBA YLD, please contact President Jonathan May, (901) 577-6102 or visit the group’s Facebook page.

Montgomery County Bar Association YLD – The group will be hosting its Wills for Heroes event on Sept. 17 at the Clarksville Police Department from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They are seeking attorney volunteers, notaries, witnesses and heroes. For information about the Montgomery County YLD contact Jamie Durrett or Justin Sensing, (931) 552-5670.

Nashville Bar Association YLD – The group will be hosting Craft Beer for Costumes on Oct. 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at House: A Social Eatery, where you can donate a new or like-new children’s Halloween costume and receive a free pint of Jackalope beer!

Northeast Tennessee Young Lawyers Association – For more information, please contact Sunny Sandos, (423) 439-4641. Follow news from the group on Facebook.

Upper Cumberland Young Lawyers Association – The UCYLA usually tries to meet on the first Thursday of each month. The group recently held its annual “Coffee Talk” with local judges from the Upper Cumberland as well as recently holding its annual Wills for Heroes event.

Williamson County Bar Association YLD – The WCBA YLD’s next meeting is Oct. 20 beginning at 5 p.m. The first round of drinks and appetizers will be provided. For information about the group contact President Jason Talley, (615) 591-4002 or follow news from the group on Facebook.

Much like the previous two expungement clinics in which the YLD has participated, many clients are expected, so the more volunteers, the better. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact TBA YLD Diversity Committee Chair Amber Floyd for more information.

Celebrate Pro Bono Month 2016 kicks off this weekend with more than 50 events planned across the state during the month of October. Tennessee lawyers help thousands of clients throughout the year by providing free legal advice, but this assistance is especially celebrated and emphasized during the month of October as part of a nationwide celebration. Now in its eighth year, the Tennessee initiative brings together bar associations, law schools, law firms, legal services providers and individual lawyers to offer free services to those unable to afford a lawyer, and to celebrate the good works of Tennessee lawyers. This year's celebration is expected to involve more than 300 volunteers -- including lawyers, law students, paralegals and language interpreters. A summary of events is posted online and will be updated throughout the month.

Along with the Tennessee Bar Association, the YLD Public Policy Committee has received a legislative proposal to consider amending T.C.A. 29-9-101 et seq. so as to allow judges the option of awarding attorney fees for prosecuting criminal contempt matters in their respective courts. The TBA is expected to address this issue during the upcoming legislative year. A summary of the proposal can be found here, written by Judge Phillip Robinson of the 3rd Circuit Court of the 20th Judicial District in Nashville. Comments are welcomed and may be submitted to the respective members of the YLD Public Policy Committee, Will Hicky or John L. Billings with the subject line “attorney fees contempt proposal." Comments received will be summarized for the YLD board for consideration and further comment to the TBA.

The YLD Wills for Heroes program provides free wills and other end of life documents for first responders in Tennessee. The following clinics have been scheduled for the spring. Please contact the event organizer for more details or to volunteer.

Alex McVeagh, an attorney with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel and a member of the TBA YLD board, has been named the newest member of the Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) board of directors. McVeagh previously chaired the group’s annual Campaign for Justice Committee and has coordinated numerous pro bono clinics in East Tennessee. The LAET board is comprised of attorneys and client-eligible members from Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities areas that make up the organization’s 26-county service area.

The TBA has two dates coming up in which young lawyers can attend a Transactional Practice CLE.

This six-hour seminar will provide lawyers with the information, tools, and tips needed to successfully handle transactional and traditional business matters. Specifically, the course will offer practical approaches to handling:

-Probate Matters

-Mergers and Acquisitions

-Corporate and LLC Formations

-Real Estate Transactions

The program will also discuss issues specific to health care transactions. The day will wrap up with a presentation about ethics in the practice of law.

The Tennessee Supreme Court’s Indigent Representation Task Force will meet at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in Room LP12 of Legislative Plaza in Nashville. The panel will hear presentations from Vince Dean, Hamilton County criminal court clerk and president of the Tennessee Clerks of Court Conference; Jerry N. Estes, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference; Charme Allen, Knox County district attorney general; Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn; and Justyna Garbaczewska Scalpone with the Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender. Get details about the meeting.

Jonathan Cole, a shareholder in Baker Donelson’s Nashville office, has been elected president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP). He is the first Nashville lawyer to be elected to the position, his firm reports. In this role, he will oversee programs providing leadership training, networking and information sharing for bar leaders across the country and abroad. Cole previously served as president of the Nashville Bar Association and chair of the ABA’s Young Lawyers Division. He currently serves as director of the American Bar Endowment and is a fellow of the American, Tennessee and Nashville bar foundations.

The TBA YLD Board invites specialty and minority bars in the state to name a representative to serve as an unfunded and non-voting member of the board. The goal of the invited guest program is to increase diversity among the board and provide an opportunity for young lawyers involved in other legal organizations to have a voice in the state bar association. See a list of all organizations invited to send representatives.

Association for Women Attorneys (AWA) – The AWA has several events coming up this fall. On Sept. 14 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., the group will have a membership social at Heather Boutique & Spa in Memphis. On Nov. 9, the AWA will have its New Attorney Welcome and Membership Social to welcome new attorneys that have passed the bar at Bank Tennessee in Memphis. For more information about the AWA, contact Megan Warden, (901) 848-8725.

Please join us Sept. 21 from noon – 1:30 p.m. at the downtown Knoxville YWCA for ETLAW’s next monthly meeting. The group will discuss immigration issues that may be relevant to a wide variety of practice areas.

For the eighth year, ETLAW will have a team for the Knoxville Race for the Cure. This year’s event will be held on Oct. 22. The team is open to all members of ETLAW, their friends, family and co-workers of all ages. With registration, you will receive a long-sleeved race t-shirt from Komen. To be part of ETLAW’s team, go to www.komenknoxville.org, then take these steps: “Events," “Race for the Cure," “Register" and “Join a Team.” Create an account or log in as a former participant. You will then be asked to find the team, which is “East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women.” All registrations and donations are made through Komen’s secure site. Komen will provide a receipt for tax purposes for any donation over the registration fee.

National Bar Association, Napier Looby Chapter - For information about the group and its activities, contact Cyle Catlett, (708) 845-7469.

National Bar Association, S.L. Hutchins Chapter – The NBA S.L. Hutchins Chapter in Chattanooga is currently planning a Law Camp for high schools in October.

For information about the group and its activities, contact Ariel Anthony, (432) 755-2661.

Southeast Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women (SETLAW) – SETLAW recently held its annual Lioness of the Bar event honoring Judge L. Marie Williams. The group’s next lunch and learn, on the topic of Legally Wed: Lawyers Married to Other Lawyers, will be on Sept. 29 at 11:30 a.m. at the offices of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel PC.

Chattanooga Bar Association YLD – The Chattanooga Bar Association YLD will continue to have monthly social happy hours and quarterly Coffee Talks with local judges throughout the year. The group recently had a special meeting to amend its bylaws. The next social happy hour will be in conjunction with the Chattanooga Bar Association on Sept. 28. The YLD will be doing a fundraiser for CASA in October.

For more information about the group contact President Corrin Fulton, (423) 756-5171, or follow the group on Facebook.

Jackson Madison County Bar Association YLD – The new President for the JMCBA is Gayra Hall. For more information about the group contact President Gayra Hall or follow news on the group's Facebook page.

Knoxville Bar Association Barristers – The Barristers Volunteer Breakfast is a recurring event on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:15 a.m. The Barristers Volunteer Breakfast Committee always needs volunteers to serve food or sponsor. Sign up here.

The Barristers will be hosting a program to train pro bono attorneys to represent TennCare enrollees in enrollment and medical service appeals and contested case hearings. The program will be held on Sept. 12 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. at Watson, Roach, Batson, Rowell & Lauderback PLC in Knoxville and will be provided free of charge to participants. If you have any difficulty questions please contact Daniel L. Ellis or Chris Coleman.

Maury County Bar Association YLD – The Maury County YLD continues to hold social gatherings on the first Tuesday of the month. For more information contact President Thomas Hutto, (931) 388-2822.

Memphis Bar Association YLD – For more information about the MBA YLD, or if you would like to get involved with the MBA YLD, please contact President Jonathan May, (901) 577-6102 or visit the group’s Facebook page.

Montgomery County Bar Association YLD – The group will be hosting its Wills for Heroes event on Sept. 17 at the Clarksville Police Department from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They are seeking attorney volunteers, notaries, witnesses and heroes. For information about the Montgomery County YLD contact Jamie Durrett or Justin Sensing, (931) 552-5670.

Nashville Bar Association YLD – The group recently had a member happy hour at the First Tennessee Park that included a private tour and food and drinks. For more information about the NBA YLD contact Justin McNaughton, (615) 782-2215, or follow the group on Facebook.

Northeast Tennessee Young Lawyers Association – For more information, please contact Sunny Sandos, (423) 439-4641. Follow news from the group on Facebook.

Upper Cumberland Young Lawyers Association – The UCYLA usually tries to meet on the first Thursday of each month. The group recently held a successful social event, as well as a Wills for Heroes legal clinic in August. The group will have their annual "Coffee Talk with the Judges" on Sept. 12 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Law Office of Rocco & Griffin in Sparta. For more information about the group, please contact President Russell C. Tribble or Secretary Ruth Bunn. Follow news from the group on Facebook.

Williamson County Bar Association YLD – The WCBA YLD rescheduled its next get together at Arrington Vineyards for Sept. 10th beginning at 1 p.m. People are invited to bring their families, and appetizers and wine will be provided. For information about the group contact President Jason Talley, (615) 591-4002 or follow news from the group on Facebook.

Registration is now open for the Academy, which offers an exciting opportunity for Tennessee attorneys to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and network with some of the nation’s leading appellate practitioners.

The 2016 TBA Academy will take place Nov. 28 - 30 in Washington, D.C., at The Hay Adams Hotel. Participating attorneys will be sworn in before the court in a private ceremony on Nov. 29. Registration forms and required materials must be submitted by Oct. 19.

Registration costs and application forms can be found at the TBA website.

Perry County is currently looking for attorneys to take juvenile court appointments. If you are interested in taking appointed work in Perry County, please contact Maury County Bar Association Representatitve Thomas Hutto or District 11 Representative Lauren Curry for more information.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division received four awards from the American Bar Association's YLD Awards of Achievement program at the ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco this month. For the division of state YLD groups with fewer than 3,000 members, the TBA YLD was awarded first place for service to the public for the Access to Justice Legal Clinic Initiative, second place for service to the bar for its CLE programming and second place for diversity programming. The YLD also received a special recognition in the comprehensive category, which honors all of the group's programs for the 2015-2016 bar year.

The TBA’s new Legal Assistance Volunteers for Patent Applicants (“LAVPA”) program is hosting free happy hours across the state for attorneys interested in learning about the program. LAVPA’s mission is to educate inventors about the patent process, provide economic development resources and match under-resourced inventors and small businesses with attorneys to secure patent protection for their inventions for free.

ALL are welcome to attend and learn. A list of dates and locations follows: